Project Information

Title: Injury to Prince William Sound Clams FS13

Project Year and Number: 1992: FS13

Other Fiscal Years and Numbers for this Project: 1991: FS13, 1990: FS13, 1989: FS13

Principal Investigator (PI): Charlie Trowbridge (Alaska Department of Fish & Game)

Managing Agency: ADFG

Assisting Personnel: Tim Baker, J. Johnson

Research Location:

Restoration Category: Damage Assessment

Injured Resources Addressed: Clams

Abstract: Part I: This project seeks to determine injuries to bivalves from the Exxon Valdez oil spill and has involved the study of four species. These are: 1) pacific littleneck clam (Protothaca staminea); 2) butter clam (Saxidomus giganteus); 3) cockle (Clinocardium nuttali); and 4) razor clam (Siliqua patula). These animals are relatively sedentary, occur on beaches throughout the Exxon Valdez oil spill area, and are known to bioaccumulate hydrocarbons. The presence of elevated levels of hydrocarbons in bivalves is known to cause an increase in mortality, decrease growth, and other sublethal injuries. This study has focused on documenting the presence of hydrocarbons, decreased growth, and identifying other sublethal injuries . This project will include the computerized entry of all data collected thus far, the analysis of this data with biometrics support, and a preliminary report outlining the injuries documented thus far. This report is to be submitted for peer review and a determination made whether additional funding for a full project close-out will be recommended to the Trustee Council. Part II If a decision is made by the Trustee Council to provide funding for a full project close-out, any additional monies will be allocated to collection of growth and age data from clams collected in 1991, synthesis of hydrocarbon results from studies which shared adjacent study locations, submission of 1991 histopathology samples for analysis, finalization of descriptive mapping products in conjunction with the GIS group, and preparation of a final report.


Proposal: View (17 KB)

Reports:
Final Report: View (22,930 KB)

Publications from this Project: None Available